DEL MAR, Calif. (CNS) – Thousands of horse racing fans are expected at Del Mar Racetrack when the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships kick off Friday, with the first day’s events spotlighting the sport’s potential future stars.

It marks the third time that one of the most prestigious annual horse racing series has been hosted by Del Mar, which also hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2017 and 2021 and has already been chosen as the venue for next year’s event.

“Our return to Del Mar in consecutive years marks the continuation of a wonderful partnership and successful partnership both with our friends at the track and with the greater San Diego region, demonstrating our continued commitment to horse racing in California,” said Drew . Fleming, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd, said after Del Mar was selected to host the 2025 Breeders’ Cup.

Attendance at Del Mar will be limited to 37,500 for each of the two days of the Breeders’ Cup.

Friday’s events – dubbed “Future Stars Friday” – include five Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-old colts and fillies, with the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

East Coast interloper East Avenue – who is undefeated in two starts and won his last race by 5 1/2 lengths – is the 5-2 favorite in the morning line in a field of 10 for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Scotland’s Lassie, who won her last race in New York by nine lengths, is the morning favorite at 5-2 in a field of 10 for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Other races on Friday include the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with undefeated Japanese runner Ecoro Sieg as the 7-2 favorite in the morning line; British-based and undefeated Lake Victoria as the 8-5 morning line favorite in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; and New Century as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

There are also five other races on Friday, starting at 11:35 am

Some of the world’s best horses aged 3 and over will take to the track on Saturday, with the main race – the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic – moved a few hours earlier in the day at 2.41pm. than is normally performed.

Saturday’s racing starts at 10:05 a.m., with the first Breeders’ Cup race at 12 p.m.

City of Troy – who has six wins in seven career starts on the grass in England and Ireland and is a son of Triple Crown winner Justify – will race on dirt for the first time as the 5-2 morning line favorite at the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He will compete against thirteen other horses, including 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Fierceness (3-1 morning line) and Forever Young (6-1 morning line), a colt from Japan who suffered his only loss with a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Thorpedo Anna – who has won five of her six races this year and suffered her only defeat in defeat to Fierceness at the Travers in August – is the 4-5 morning favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Other morning line favorites include:

— Rebel’s Romance, who is looking for its second consecutive Breeders’ Cup victory as the 5-2 morning favorite in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf;

— War Like Goddess, who returns for a fourth Breeders’ Cup race as the 5-2 morning favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf;

— Federal Judge, who is trying to win for the third straight time this year as a 3-1 morning favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint;

— Notable Speech, the European-based runner who is the 7-2 morning favorite in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile;

— Cogburn, who is undefeated in three races this year as the 7-5 morning favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint;

— Domestic Product, which is looking for its third straight victory as 7-2 morning favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile;

— Ways and Means, who is vying for her fourth straight win as a 5-2 morning line favorite for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The races will be partially broadcast on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and Fanduel.

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